Anoline lizards use a complex visual display consisting of up and down movements of the head and body, and expansion of a colorful throat fan called the dewlap. We focused on analyzing display movement patterns. Adult males utilize these displays during territorial disputes with other males. The role of the display movements in these territorial fights is not well understood. In this study we explored the hypothesis that the rapid and abrupt movements of the head and body serve as an “honest” signal of the male’s physical condition, and are therefore useful for scaring off weaker opponents. We carried out two experiments to help us understand display motion function. First, we manipulated male body temperatures by exposing males to varying degrees of environmental heat (using a heat lamp). We then introduced intruder males and recorded the residents’ display with high-speed video. We tested to see if changes in body temperature result in changes of the speed of movement of the signals. Second we tested for evidence that viewing males could detect small differences in the speed of the display movements. We hypothesized that this display works well for the anoles because their visual system is highly attuned to quick-moving objects in their peripheral vision. In this experiment we presented males with small moving dot stimuli in their visual periphery. We determined the probability that they would notice, and shift their gaze toward the moving dot, as a function of the abruptness of movement of the stimulus. In this way we can determine whether differences in motion speed alter the perception of moving stimuli, which can tell us whether lizards can distinguish between display movements of different speeds. Through our results we can determine whether Anolis lizard display slows down with decrease in body temperature, and whether or not such changes can be perceived. Lower body temperature reduces muscle contraction speed and power. If lower body temperatures lead to differences in display motion speed, it would imply that the display is an honest signal of the overall health and strength of the lizard. The ability of the lizards to discriminate between different motion speeds would mean that this difference in display speed can be determined by lizard viewers. Positive results would suggest that the movements that make up the territorial display of male Anolis lizards serve the function of signaling body condition to opponents.